Americans’ discontent with the economy endangers Biden’s reelection

Thousands of workers at the luxurious Las Vegas casinos spent months on the warpath for wage increases. The feeling that money is not enough is shared by millions of Americans, and undermines the re-election chances of Joe Biden.

“The economy is horrible. “Inflation has hurt everyone,” Jennine Minervini, of the Culinary Workers union, told AFP in protest in front of the Golden Nuget casino.

The union, which brings together some 60,000 workers from the also called Sin City, reached an agreement with the casinos, but the discontent among the working class reflects the challenge that Biden has in front of the electorate despite the excellent economic indicators.

The inflationwhich reached a 40-year high (9.1%) in 2022, has declined to levels close to 2% of pre-pandemic levels, and the economy grew 3.1% in 2023, with unemployment near historic lows.

“This is a good economy,” recently declared Jerome Powell, president of the Federal Reserve (Fed, US central bank).

But prices remain high, and the perception on the streets differs.

Protests for salary improvements marked last year. The unions of the automotive industries and entertainment were paralyzed with the same claim: salaries do not keep up with the increase in prices.

Only 36% of voters approve of Biden’s performance on economic matters, according to NBC News numbers released on Monday.

“Everything has gone up: the cost of living, rent, car insurance, food. All. but the money is gone”, said Andrew Wentland, a Las Vegas hospitality worker who took on a second job and works 16-hour days to make ends meet.

“I tried to make adjustments. And it’s hard when you realize that you have to live as if you were poor. “The money just isn’t enough for me.”

Worry

While workers like Wentland and Minervini endured cold and rain on their picket lines Friday in Las Vegas, the president praised in a statement the positive news in the job market, with the creation of 14.8 million new jobs since he came to power.

“The United States economy is the strongest in the world,” said the president. “Today we have tests.”

This disconnection, specialists believe, fuels the unpopularity of Bidenwhich has an approval rating of just 37%, according to the same NBC poll.

“I think people are a little worried when there is a lack of money,” he said.said Peter Guzmán, president of the Nevada Latino Chamber of Commerce, which brings together more than 1,500 members in the state whose main economic activity is entertainment.

“When it comes to elections, this is what influences the vote. People are going to vote depending on how their wallet is. It is a significant indicator.”

Another point that impacts public opinion is foreign war spending, with the reading that Washington prioritizes conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East over the national situation.

“The government takes all my taxes because it gave all the money to people in conflict and that has nothing to do with us. Take care of us before taking care of them.” Wentland claimed.

“Results”

The electoral cycle just began in USA with the primaries that will define the candidates of each party.

Despite facing dozens of accusations in court for electoral irregularities, trump He leads, by far, the fight for the Republican Party nomination, which would place him, again, against Biden in November.

The Democrat narrowly defeated him in 2020, but the popularity curves began to invert last year.

NBC’s numbers place him with 47% support compared to 43% for Biden.

And although none of them seem to have absolute favoritism, the decision can come down to the pocketbook.

“I don’t like Trump (…) I don’t like his personality, but I recognize that knowing about economics was a great help for the country”said small businesswoman Laura Bolado.

Bolado, who has not decided his vote, expects more than campaign promises.

“If you go down the street lately you know that more and more businesses are closing because they can’t afford the rents. Renting is very expensive, the lifestyle is getting higher and higher”Bolado added.

“So I think more than anything I would like to hear, I would like to see results.”